DO WHAT YOU LOVE: WHAT DO YOU LOVE?

5th March 2014

Over the course of working on the Do What You Love series it’s become clear from your comments and emails that a lot of you are looking for a passion (that could, one day, maybe, turn into a full time job) to make you happy and fulfil you. However, many of you aren’t sure about what it is that you love. I’ve heard from a lot of people (even a few of my friends) saying ‘I want to find what I love but I don’t know what it is yet’. If that’s you, don’t worry, it’s normal! I remember feeling that exact way a few years ago.

Since the question was first posed to me, I’ve had a think about how I went about finding what I loved. For me, finding my passion was a mix of what I knew, what I had always done and what I was good (ish) at. And so, bearing in mind that my view is limited to my personal experience (and I know everyone is different), I’ve put a few questions together that I think would have been useful to me a few years back when I was working out what I loved. Hope they help!

1. What are your values?

This is going wayyyy back to basics but knowing what you value in life is a great start to making major decisions, like what you love and what you want to do in the longterm. There are a tonne of ways to determine your personal values, but most of them pretty much run along the lines of picking your set of values from a long list (like this one) and then ranking them as to the ones that matter the most. Once you’ve got your most important values in front of you, it might be useful to ask yourself if what you’re doing now is in line with those values. What small, or large, changes could you make for your life to be more in line with the things you care about most?

2. What’s in your DNA?

For many of us, what we love is deep down inside, meaning it’s been with us forever and was probably one of our earliest interests. I ended up working as a town planner because it was something I was familiar with, but it didn’t make me jump out of bed every morning. The funny thing was, I had always crafted my own clothes (to varying degrees of success), it was my passion I spent all my time thinking about since I was 5 – I used to sneak out of my office when I working in London, and go to the high street and buy thrifted clothes and thread and lace for my projects. Hence, it was deep down in my DNA (not literally – although I wouldn’t be surprised if a little pair of scissors have attached themselves to my chromosomes!). So what’s in your DNA? Write down on a piece of paper your earliest memories of things you liked doing. Every photo of me when I was little has me dressing up, making things, working out how things worked. Maybe there’s something you loved then, and you still love now?

3. What are you drawn to in your free time?

What you do in your free time is a great indication of what you love. What do you do on the weekends? What do you do when you have no other obligations? What are your secret pleasures, other than TV (although some people have made a career out of a TV addiction…). One way to research it is tolook at your internet history – what type of sites do you browse the most? Are you planning your holidays constantly? Googling gluten free recipes? Collecting pictures of beautifully designed interiors? Reading the latest book review on a literature site? Often what we love most are the things we do in our free time, and what better life is there than to be able to turn your hobby into your everyday? Making that jump isn’t always easy but working out what you love is the best place to start.

4. What are your natural aptitudes?

Doing what you love is important, but unless it matches up with what you’re good at you’re going to have a tough time creating a niche for yourself and being successful. That’s not to say skills can’t be learnt, they definitely can, but doing what you’re good at makes life a lot easier. So what are you good at? If it turns out that what you’re good at diverges from what you love, your could start thinking about ways to integrate the two. If there’s no way to integrate the two, look at it like what you’re good at is the bread and butter (girls gotta eat right!?) that allows you to do what you love in your free time.

5. What are your major personality traits?

I was recently speaking to a woman who had a few months ago changed careers, went from an in-house role where she rarely spoke to people to a sales style role – and her life changed in a major way. She realised that her outgoing and bubbly personality thrived working with others, something she overlooked when she first chose her career path. This pretty much happened to me too – the reality of working as a town planner was completely different to university, and in the end my personality traits – outgoing, creative, bossy – didn’t mesh with the job I was in. Ask yourself, what are your personality traits (some people like to use the Myers Briggs Analysis for this)? Are you introverted? Extroverted? Do you like working with others or do you prefer working alone? Do you like being a leader? Or do you prefer to be lead? Do you prefer creative pursuits or more structured ones? Now, next question, do your personality traits match up well with what you do now? If not, what could you be better suited to?

6. What do others think you’re good at?

This may sound like a cop out but sometimes we are so deeply entrenched in our own lives that we fail to see our own assets. In my past profession I had lots of friends who said to me now and again, ‘you’re so not a town planner’, which could have done with a bit of a deep dive at the time rather than my response of ‘errrr, thanks?’. I guess people could see I was good at other things, I just couldn’t see it myself. If people haven’t offered up the advice in the past, go looking for it. Ask your bestie, boyfriend, mother or anyone you know – what do you think I’m good at?

Knowing what you love and what makes you happy is a huge step, as it sets the foundations for determining how you will integrate that into your life, whether it will be the thing you love to do most on the weekends, or a full time career (there are pros and cons to both!). But don’t beat yourself up if you don’t know right away, let your brain ponder the questions above and you might find an idea/realisation comes to you out of the blue. I always find I have those sort of epiphanies when I least expect them!

So, question time – who of you out there is still trying to (or has in the past) decide what you want to do, what you love, and what you should focus on? I’d love to hear if anyone has any insights or tips for deciding which direction to go in, I know just how hard it can be.

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68 Comments

It’s not that simple. Not always you can do what you love… I love art and design and I’m good at that, but I must be an engineer in a production company and nothing will change All dreams depends on the country you’re in and money you have. It’s sad but true… When you have money on the start you can look for an idea for yourself for long long time. When you have not, you need to search quickly for a good job.

It´s true that noy having money issues makes things easier. I mean you HAVE to eat, dress and pay rent. But you can always find some time to do what you love. If you try to make money out of what you love you may not make enough to support yourself at first or anytime. In my coutry (Argentina) we have these proverbe “failure is not bother to try”.
You shold always try to be happier, it makes you a better person.

Wow, that’s just the perfect read for me at the moment! As I really really am in the midst of going through a little before mid-life crises, you might say. hehe

I’m really going blank too.. did all the lists and DNA and analyses searching, but still I dunno what I really wanna do or can do, better say. Mm.. it’s really a though thing to find out … and so late in my life as well. But better late then never I guess!

I LOVE this post! I’ve been having a tough time with this lately. I don’t know what I want to do with my life, but I know I want to do something amazing that is fulfilling and makes me happy. I don’t want to be stuck doing something I hate for the rest of my life. This post is super helpful, I’m going to list out all of my values and really dig deep into it.

Thank you so much for this really useful post! I’ve been trying so hard to find exactly what it is that I love love love and this will most definitely help get rid of some options.
Thing is, I love creative things but I’m not a creative person. I’m a great observer and analyzer, but I’m really not a good creator. Can’t we just be born with a how-to guide for life?!

amazing post. it is really speaking to me as I am having somewhat of a quarter life crisis.

I am currently a property manager in London but reading through your list I don’t even hesitate with the answers and I can tell you right now that I am supposed to be a graphic designer. I TRAINED in it. I FREELANCE in it. but I am absolutely paralysed with FEAR by the thought of actually trying to make it a full time job although I know it will make me happy.

Perhaps that could be your next post – how to grow some balls and go for it?!

Natasha I have the exact same fear about going into that profession too and i also have training in it. It’s good to know I’m not alone. I hate my job and want to go back to school and dive back into it head first. It looks like you have the skill to do it go for it. Good luck.

I have been struggling with this for quite a few years and always enjoy coming across blog posts that help the reader look a little deeper or find inspiration. I quit one unfulfilling job to do another one with less stress and more pay but it takes up so much more time and I know I am not fulfilled or happy. It’s just a temporary piggy bank I guess. I’ve always wanted to start my own home-baking business and have big dreams of it expanding but like one of your other commenters said, I’m afraid! Afraid to take the plunge and go for it, maybe some posts on getting started and going for it would help

I always think that whatever you make time for is the thing that you love doing. If you sacrifice social engagements for your singing lessons then you love singing. If you spend every spare second sewing, then that’s what you love. It’s a pretty good indicator!

I can totally relate to this! I’m in my first year of a science degree and everyone says I should have my life and career sorted by now but it is just so much harder than that. I love my blog and would love to make a career out of it but that seems like a distant dream. Regardless, I am going to keep working hard in every aspect of my life. Thanks for a great post

I really enjoyed this post. I think the first thing in finding what you love is to look at what you do in your spare time. What do you gravitate toward. These are the activities you love. What do you think about while you’re at work? You can absolutely do what you love. At first it is for free, as a hobby in conjunction with your money-making gig. It takes time to build a brand or a skill that can be marketed, but with diligence it is possible.

I’m turning 21 in a few months and this is my 4th year in uni studying computer engineering (which i loathe ) and i have 2 and a half more years to go. I currently L O V E blogging and i really really really want to be a youtuber, but in my culture, i can’t be. I don’t want to be working in a cubicle for the rest of my life. So, i guess i’m pretty lost at the moment.

Sara: Never say I can’t, there has to be a way. Think long and hard, if you are putting a great effort to your studies, then do the same for being a youtuber. You can do this, be strong and positive. There is always an angle.

Thank you so much for this post! I am in a point where i am confused..shold i stay in my job? should i pursue something else? One of my main goals is to have my own company, but, i still haven’t got the idea of what type of company..now that you say that we have to write down our earliest memories of things we liked doing, i remember that i’ve always liked fashion, styling, since i was a little girl..so one of the things that always catch my eye is having a store and something fashion related..BUT i will do my homework with all the things you listed and analyze more about this Anyway, i think these are great tips and i love this series, great job!!!

Lovely post…Unfortunatelly sometimes it is not simple….I have studied art and design and I love art and creativity but I have to be lab assistant to support myself….the girl need to eat….But I am really like your post, it is very inspirational….

I just had a very quick look at your blog and spotted your drawings……you should definitely be doing something creative! You are very talented.

I’m in the same boat as you, had a creative job, work got quiet, took a science type job, have just moved to a new city and am looking to move back into something artistic. It’s tough, especially as we are all so aware of money and the increasing costs of things.

If it’s what your really want to do you can find a way! Start small and build up.

It’s a really really though question that I been questioning myself about for times now. I look forward to accomplish something that really helps me flourish, but it seems really hard to find out WHAT. Thank you so much for your tips and for writing on such subject.

Great article Geneva!! And perfect timing as well, I am personally right in the middle of the challenge of figuring out how to make what I love into what I get do on a daily basis. I definitely share your love for DIY and like you, my earliest memories are about learning to (break..ahem..) my mother’s sewing machine:)

For those who have already figured out that their passion in life is creation, but who are concerned it might not be possible to instantly have the means to set up a career around it, I’ve come to one important realization that may help:

Don’t panic if you can’t immediately align your source of income with the #1 thing you love. Instead like with any goal, take a smaller step – try to take your career towards the creative place you want to be in. If you work at a bank and have great analytical skills but are bored, consider moving into consulting role where you can use your creativity to find solutions to problems. Taking a step towards making your creative ability a part of your day-job will enhance your good feeling about all areas of life, and you’ll feel like you are moving in the right direction.

Love this article. I am 55 and when I turned 50 it did not bother me at all. I love getting older and sharing stories. It literally is a hobby. Mostly just friends and family follow the blogs but I am always putting recipes or wirting a blog….I just love it….www.50plusstickingtogether.com it literally is just a hobby, no huge expectations…I just did a blog on finding delight in storms….every season has a storm…I hope you all can find delight during them

Wow, I think this is so timely. Not only for me but for a lot of others it seems. I too am in a job that does not suit my creative nature. It is out of necessity, but that does not mean I will not continue to pursue my dreams. God created me to be an artist and designer. This is something I know from my core. Thank you for reminding us to press-in to our callings.

I’m still trying to figure it out , though I love art and design recently I feel uninspired and unmotivated. Struggling with the daily grind of working a rubbish job with crappy hours, but one day I will get my dream job what ever that is.

Spending a little time each day on doing what you love is important for my spiritual health. Creating, cleaning, whatever it is …

Sure, we all need to pay the bills, but we all need time to play too. My love is designing jewelry and at times, I admit I do that rather than cleaning. My aunt used to say “the house will still be there to clean later.” It’ll work out.

I am 52 years old and embarking on a elementary teaching license. I have spent the last 20 years in overseas service and feel like I am starting again. I refuse to take a job I hate for the last 15 years of my working life. I am working for peanuts as a instructional aid and can’t pay my bills. However, I feel blessed everyday that I go in and thank God for the blessing. On snow days, when I don’t get paid, I go in and do planning and feel blessed.
You could only get this much joy from doing something you love. If I love it the pay check is a bonus.

I’m so glad that I stumbled upon this post in the Bloglovin email today! Currently, I’m in the middle of turning my life around after hitting rock bottom in my current job. I’ve decided to focus the rest of my life on doing the things that make me happy and give me energy, not simply pursuing a career in an industry I don’t enjoy, just because that was where I happened to end up. So now I’ve resurrected my blog, am in the process of setting up a tiny consultancy company, am planning my move to a different city and searching for a job in the fashion industry. All these things have been in my dreams for years, but I didn’t dare pursuing them. Now my health and sanity have luckily forced me to reevaluate my life. I’m really excited about the future for the first time in years and can’t wait to get started on living the rest of my life. It’s never too late to make changes!

Great article. I think a good way to figure out what it is you’re passionate about is to shadow or intern for people in positions that you have some kind of interest in. Then you can see the ins and outs of the job and get a sense of whether it fits your personality and interests. Just a thought!

I am a Canadian photographer living in Brasil. You have to try, you have to make an effort and to fail or not see the passion come forth, is ok (don’t beat yourself up). Do not look at the search for what you love to be this huge mountain. Look at the different things you try as an adventure. Yes we will have bad days and good days, hell we all do. I am reading and commenting in this blog, because I feel the same way right now. I am fighting to learn the language here, I am thinking what have I done? We all have doubts and fears, but if we let them hold us back, then we are not living. All I know is that when I am behnd the lens and looking at life, I see amazing things. I try to capture what my eye sees. I shoot people and moments in life. I see so many people trying to make a life they love. To think about it for to long, you stop living. People in Canada, USA, Brasil are all the same. They want to enjoy life, find something that inspires them. Have there children to be happy and safe. To love and be loved by friends and family. To be respected and maybe admired a little bit. lol The bottom line is this (at least my view point) – Stop thinking, start trying different things and don’t be so hard on yourself for not finding it yet.

I understand what you’re getting at, and I think you did a good job of giving examples you know I already know what I love – that’s reading and writing. But that’s only what I love the most. There are plenty of other things I enjoy doing and I can’t wait for them to become bigger parts of my life too. I am only fifteen though, so I’m sure I have plenty of time

Hey! I just pitched upon your post and was happilly surprised! Cause the problem touched in this article is just what is on my mind for a veeeery looong time… and I can not say that I succeeded in finding my own thing. I liked your idea of going back to basics, I’ve never tried it. I suppose it could be really helpful, I’ll talk to my mum))
Lately I thought that I really should start sewing clothes of my own design. Clothes and style have always been my biggest love and obsession. Sometimes I work as a stylist, help my friends from time to time to combine pieces for an outfit. Lots of pepole think that I should work in fashion industry, and who know me only in socialnets are sure that I do work there!)
I am from Moscow and it’s really hard to ride rails in this city..
Your post really inspired me, thanks a lot! I do my best to find my way!

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This is a great post! I’ve been thinking a lot lately about doing something that I love as a future career for myself, and the thing that I’m building on is turning my blog into something more worthwhile. I love blogging and the thing that attracts me to having a blogging career is that I’d be my own boss and work for myself. I’ve always enjoyed working alone because I’m an independent person so this seems to be the perfect solution for me